18" Tire Questions + AWD

[BaddAssGst]

I'm looking for a set of tires for my AWD. The wheels are 18x8s and currently I'm running 225-40 Yokohama Paradas. Is there a better tire size for these wheels and what tires should I run? It's decently modded (fmic, cams, turbo, etc) so it will lay down some nice times and nice hp numbers. Is that unimportant though? Since it's AWD, am I able to just get the "cheaper" tires and still not worry about traction?

Basically a quick summary of my question, is it complete necessary to use expensive tires on an AWD? I know I will notice a difference but am I better off spending an extra 200 bucks on a NICE set of tires. By nice, I mean Yokohamas, F1s, etc or do I just stick with any tire for as cheap as I can go.

I'm looking for something good on dry surfaces and it's gotta be halfway decent on wet pavement (rain).

Sorry for the long post guys, just trying to figure out what to do. Thanks.

 

[Iroc_g]

I'm running 225-40 Yokohama Paradas.

What did you think of your paradas?

 

[DGajre777]

Go to www.tirerack.com, choose which rating you want - HR,VR,WR,YR or ZR, look at the reviews for each tire and make your decision. Everyone's definition of a "nice set of tires" is different. If it was me, I'd go with Kumho ECSTA ASX, 225/40WR18, $87 each. I don't care about Deep Snow and Ice Traction in Florida. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...earch=true&fromCompare1=yes&partnum=24WR8EASX

 

[DiamondStarM]

Kumho ECSTA... I don't care about Deep Snow and Ice Traction in Florida.

 

[wret]

It depends on what you want to do with your car. An AWD can be quite fast in a straight line with low end tires. Sticking to the curves takes a little more science and usually more dough. No one here can recommened tires without knowing your goals (and your offset).

 

[Goro21]

I picked up a set of BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDW2s from Tirerack.com a month or two ago and LOVE them I have them mounted on a set of 18x8s aswell and they get crazy traction in just about all weather. (especially dry/wet .. not so good in snow)

Give them a look, they are semi expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

 

[BaddAssGst]

What did you think of your paradas?

Well I can't comment on them a whole lot since there isn't much tread left on them to begin with when I got the car. Plus, me coming from FWD and never driving All Wheel makes a huge difference. I would say they hook up nicely when it's dry but in the rain, they aren't so great of course this could be due to low tread as wel..

It depends on what you want to do with your car. An AWD can be quite fast in a straight line with low end tires. Sticking to the curves takes a little more science and usually more dough. No one here can recommened tires without knowing your goals (and your offset).

It's strictly a daily driver that will see the track quite a few times this spring/summer. I'm not into autocross or anything like that so I won't end up doing that. I do want the tires to be able to handle halfway decent though. I'm not exactly sure but I want something that's going to hold up (if i spend 200 bucks a pop). As far as offset, I have no idea. Wheels aren't my thing.

I picked up a set of BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDW2s from Tirerack.com a month or two ago and LOVE them I have them mounted on a set of 18x8s aswell and they get crazy traction in just about all weather. (especially dry/wet .. not so good in snow)

Give them a look, they are semi expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

Yeah I had a set on my FWD and I liked them but at 142 bucks per 16" tire, I wouldn't recommend them again. Thanks for the comment though.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Paradas suck in the rain, if you look at their tread you will notice that they have much more tread ofn the actual ground. They are awesome in dry, but suck ass in water. A few of my friends had em, never going to go with em again.

I run pirelli pzeros. They are holding up really well, WELL the back ones at least. I forgot to get an alignment and my front ones are showing metal on the inside. Oops. Expensive too. But ive already run like 6-7 autocrosses on them in 3 months and they held up well. Snow they arent TOO bad.

 

[BaddAssGst]

Yeah basically I'm looking for a set of spring/summer tires. I want something thats got a good dry traction tread and it's gotta be moderately good in the rain since it's my DD. Any more ideas?

 

[Flash]

Paradas suck in the rain, if you look at their tread you will notice that they have much more tread ofn the actual ground. They are awesome in dry, but suck ass in water. A few of my friends had em, never going to go with em again.

From your post your friends have just had the tires and you haven't. I think my Parada Spec 2's are great in wet situations.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Well I Drive my friend's cars all the time. I actually thougth my kumho 712s did better personally in the rain....

 

[slugsgomoo]

I have prada spec 2's on my galant, and Advan A046's on the talon, and the prada's aren't even in the same league. I'd say that they corner better than a kuhmo MX, but they don't launch as well (not as sticky, just stiffer sidewalls).

I won't buy them again, for what it's worth (won't buy kuhmo MX's again either).

I'm considering going to BFG T/A KDW2's since it rains quite a bit up here, or if i'm on a tight budget, maybe the Dunlop FM901's. Way cheaper than the prada's and they are as good if not better.

Also, get a wider tire. 225 on an 8" rim seems too narrow. Get a 235 or a 245, but check your profile, and make sure you get the correct series- to keep the right external diameter.

I run an 18x7 currently, so i run 225/40-18, but if I had an 8" wide wheel i would probably run 245/35-18 as it is only -.3% off the stock size.

 

[Quasimondo]

Go to www.tirerack.com, choose which rating you want - HR,VR,WR,YR or ZR, look at the reviews for each tire and make your decision. Everyone's definition of a "nice set of tires" is different. If it was me, I'd go with Kumho ECSTA ASX, 225/40WR18, $87 each. I don't care about Deep Snow and Ice Traction in Florida. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...earch=true&fromCompare1=yes&partnum=24WR8EASX

I'm with you on the Kumho's. I have a set of Ecsta 712's and they're pretty good bang for the buck. I get around the snow problem by not driving in it.

 

[BaddAssGst]

I have prada spec 2's on my galant, and Advan A046's on the talon, and the prada's aren't even in the same league. I'd say that they corner better than a kuhmo MX, but they don't launch as well (not as sticky, just stiffer sidewalls).

I won't buy them again, for what it's worth (won't buy kuhmo MX's again either).

I'm considering going to BFG T/A KDW2's since it rains quite a bit up here, or if i'm on a tight budget, maybe the Dunlop FM901's. Way cheaper than the prada's and they are as good if not better.

Also, get a wider tire. 225 on an 8" rim seems too narrow. Get a 235 or a 245, but check your profile, and make sure you get the correct series- to keep the right external diameter.

I run an 18x7 currently, so i run 225/40-18, but if I had an 8" wide wheel i would probably run 245/35-18 as it is only -.3% off the stock size.

Will a 245 fit on a 1g without rubbing? A few people I talked to said I could fit a 235 in there but weren't sure on a 245. I know some tires are different so it will depend on the type of tire I get as well. I'm not a tire/wheel guy which is why I'm asking here. As far as offset goes, is there an accurate way to measure this. I assume it's from the center of the wheel to the outside lip and it's measured in MM. Thanks for the help so far guys, basically what I'm seeing now on tires are:
- Dunlop FM901s
- Kuhmo MX or 712s (which I've heard aren't great tires)
- Parads or Advan A046s
- .....

 

[MitsuGSX97]

Offset is the distance between the wheel centerline and bolt pad. To find the backspace you measure from the hub bolt pad to the inside flange of the wheel. Then you find the wheels overall width(measurement from the inboard flange to outboard flange and divide it by 2 to get the centerline)

Backspace - overall width/2 = offset in inches


Example= "6 - (8.5/2)= 1.75

To convert multiply 1.75 by 25.4 to get mm

Offset is approximately: +44.45mm

 

[BaddAssGst]

Offset is the distance between the wheel centerline and bolt pad. To find the backspace you measure from the hub bolt pad to the inside flange of the wheel. Then you find the wheels overall width(measurement from the inboard flange to outboard flange and divide it by 2 to get the centerline)

Backspace - overall width/2 = offset in inches


Example= "6 - (8.5/2)= 1.75

To convert multiply 1.75 by 25.4 to get mm

Offset is approximately: +44.45mm

Whoa, probably a good explanation but waaaay over my head.

 

[MitsuGSX97]

Ok, if you have the wheel face down offset is from the very center of the wheel to the bolt pad(where the hub touches the wheel). You had the right idea in your earlier post but just backwards..

An 18X8 wheel can have an overall larger width when you measure it, I used "8.5 as the overall width because I was using my wheels as an example. I used to work in a tire store and this is the easiest way I know to explain it...

You can pm me if you have any other questions

 

[Blk95gs]

Well, I have no experience YET with these tires I am about to list, but honestly I do nothing at work and have been looking for some tires as of late.

With 8" width, you might think about going with a 235/40 just for that extra bit. A few sets of tires I have looked at:

Falken Azenis ST115... 225/40/18 $111 a piece from discounttiredirect.com
treadwear 360, Trac: A, Temp: A

Pirelli PZero Nero M&S... 225/40/18 $131 a piece from discounttiredirect.com
treadwear 400, Trac: AA, Temp: A


I read the reviews, and for the money those 2 choices are what I am narrowed down to. And those are the best prices that I have found in my hunt.

Hope this may help.

 

[slugsgomoo]

Will a 245 fit on a 1g without rubbing? A few people I talked to said I could fit a 235 in there but weren't sure on a 245. I know some tires are different so it will depend on the type of tire I get as well. I'm not a tire/wheel guy which is why I'm asking here. As far as offset goes, is there an accurate way to measure this. I assume it's from the center of the wheel to the outside lip and it's measured in MM. Thanks for the help so far guys, basically what I'm seeing now on tires are:
- Dunlop FM901s
- Kuhmo MX or 712s (which I've heard aren't great tires)
- Parads or Advan A046s
- .....

They should, provided you run a proper backspacing, and the correct tire profile.

On my talon, i run stock evo wheels & tires, which are 17x8 & run 235/45-17. NDgsx and some of the other NW guys have been running enkei & 5zigen (fn01rc style, IIRC) wheels in 17x8 with 245/40-17 tires with no issues. I think the biggest issue is making sure you have enough offset to handle it.

If I were buying tires without regard to cost, or tread life, I'd probably look at Advans, or Toyo RA-1's. The problem with each is that they're not ideal in the wet, they wear incredibly fast, and they're not cheap.

If i were buying a compromise between moderately high cost, and good performance all around, i'd look at S-03's or BFG KD's or KDW2's.

If I was rolling budget, I'd go Dunlop FM901, as I don't know of many tires in the <$130 range that compete well. I don't like kuhmo tires because of the soft sidewalls, but if you are drag racing you might see that as a benefit.

Biggest thing, try to drive on as many tires as you can, and when you find a tire that you really like the characteristics of, stick with it until you find something better.

I think that the prada's are too expensive for what you get, and I wouldn't buy them again, for what it's worth.